Anti-Inflammatory and Antiviral Osmotic Polymeric Film to Treat Covid-19 Early-Stage Infection.

BACKGROUND: Covid-19 infection starts in the nasal cavity when viral S1 and RBD proteins bind to the host cell ACE2 receptors, the virus multiplies, causes cell lysis, and enters the circulation. This triggers a strong cytokine release and inflammation of the nasal mucosa. A multitarget approach of cleaning the nasal mucosa and suppressing chances of nasal and systemic inflammation should minimize severe respiratory consequences. Unfortunately, no such treatments are yet available. METHODS: We describe the conception of an osmotic polymeric film using an in vitro nasal mucosa mimicking model, containing polymers to neutralize Covid-19 specific viral S1, RBD proteins and selected proinflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: The filmogen barrier forms a stable and osmotic film on the nasal mucosa. Hypotonic liquid exudation from the nasal surface detaches and drains the inflammatory cytokines and other contaminants towards the film where selected polymers bind and neutralize SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 and RBD protein as well as Covid-19 disease-specific key pro-inflammatory IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-13, and GM-CSF cytokines. CONCLUSION: Minimizing the nasal surface concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines and viruses should help nasal mucosa repair and avoid immune stress. This nearly instant, simple, scientific, safe, and logical approach should help attenuate Covid-19 induced systemic inflammation at an early stage without being affected by viral S1 spike protein mutations.

Near White Light Emission and Concentration Quenching of Calcium Titanate Doped with Dysprosium (III) Phosphors.

This paper reports the preparation of CaTiO3 doped with various concentrations of Dysprosium (II) using solid state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction patterns of the sample were taken. Observed XRD pattern was matched using software match2!. The pattern was matched significantly with the crystallographic open database card (COD - 96-101-1212) which is a standard card for CaTiO3. This matching exhibited that, the prepared sample is cubic in structure with space group P m - 3 m (221). Photoluminescence (PL) studies of the samples were also done. PL intensity was found increasing with increasing dopant concentration and maximum intensity was noted at 2.0 mol% concentration of Dy3+, thereafter concentration quenching occurred. Emission Peaks were centered at 483 nm (4F9/2➔6H15/2) and 576 nm (4F9/2➔6H13/2) respectively. For studying the concentration quenching, the critical distance for energy transfer and electric multipolar character were estimated. The value of multipolar character expressed that, the transition in emission spectra is a dipole - dipole (d-d) transition. Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (CIE) coordinates was found as (0.36, 0.39), which is near to white light. Colour Correlated Temperature (CCT) was 4489 K which was indicative of cool appearance of the light emitted.

White Light Emission by Dy3+ Doped Phosphor Matrices: A Short Review.

In this review we have studied number of research papers related to white light emission from Dy3+ doped different host matrices. It is observed that most of the Dy3+doped aluminates, silicates, borates etc., emitted blue, green and red colour with specific intensities so that CIE coordinates, appeared near to white light. Correlated Colour Temperature(CCT) values of these phosphors expressed that the white light emission produced, was adaptable to human eyes. Dy3+ ions act as activator in each case. Four peaks at approximately 480,575, 670, and 757 nm could be seen in most of the Dy3+ doped phosphors. Expected transition responsible for these peaks are 4F9/2 → 6H15/2 (Blue Colour), 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 (Green-Yellow Colour), 4F9/2 → 6H11/2 (Red Colour) and 4F9/2 → 6H9/2(Brownish Red Colour). Few of the discussed phosphors exhibited long phosphorescence, starting from several minutes to few hours. Mechanism responsible for long lasting white light emission was also discussed. Five different factors, to recognize the phosphors for its suitability as commercial white light phosphor have been discussed.

Clinical evidence to demonstrate that simultaneous growth of epithelial and fibroblast cells is essential for deep wound healing.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the chronic wound healing properties of tannin rich plant extracts. METHODS: The cell growth stimulating potential of 128 procyanidin rich plant extracts was evaluated in in vitro cell culture models. For clinical trial, a 3% solution of two plant extracts having synergistic effect on cell growth was prepared in glycerol and honey. Placebo test product contained only glycerol and honey. 93 adult patients with one or more lower extremity deep wounds were divided at randomly in two groups. 41 patients in the placebo (AS-22) and 52 in the active treatment (AS-21) groups having respectively 49 and 69 wounds of a mean surface area of 56.70 and 52.03 cm(2), and volume of 57.22 and 52.15 cm(3), were treated by applying the test products topically for a period of 6-weeks. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed between the placebo and the AS-21 treated groups with respect to reduction in the wound surface area (33.37 vs 97.87%) and wound volume (29.45 vs 94.17%) after 6-weeks of treatment. Mean wound humidity and pain scores were also reduced. CONCLUSION: Tannin rich plant extracts are highly interesting for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Effects of Alchemilla vulgaris and glycerine on epithelial and myofibroblast cell growth and cutaneous lesion healing in rats.

Wound-healing properties have been suggested for Alchemilla vulgaris. Since epithelial and myofibroblast cell growth is required for wound healing, the effects of A. vulgaris on cell growth were investigated in Chang liver and Madin Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) epithelial cell lines and rat aortic myofibroblast cultures. Putative healing properties were investigated on dorsal circular 8 mm excisional skin lesions in adult male rats. Cell numbers increased with 0.1-1% A. vulgaris, attaining 21.3 +/- 2.1%, 15.5 +/- 2.25% and 10.6 +/- 0.6% in MDBK, myofibroblast and Chang liver cells, respectively (p < 0.005). No morphological changes or cytotoxicity were noted. In rats A. vulgaris (3%)-treated lesions were significantly decreased in diameter by 10.0 +/- 0.7% (p < 0.005) after 2 days of treatment. On day 3 of treatment, the lesion diameter was significantly reduced by 15.9 +/- 1.1% in glycerine vehicle-treated rats compared with distilled water (p < 0.005), whereas that in A. vulgaris-treated rats was reduced further by 23.2 +/- 1.4% (p < 0.005). Glycerine alone significantly reduced the lesion diameter between days 3 and 5 but complete healing occurred a day earlier in A. vulgaris-treated rats. The results demonstrate wound-healing properties of A. vulgaris associated with promitotic activity in epithelial cells and myofibroblasts.

Treatment of Aphthous Stomatitis with topical Alchemilla vulgaris in glycerine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recurrent aphthous ulceration is the most common oral mucosal disease known. It presents as three types: minor (most prevalent), major and herpetiform. However, there are no well established effective and reliable treatments of this condition. Alchemilla vulgaris (Lady's Mantle) has traditionally been used in oral hygiene and was recently shown to accelerate wound healing when used in combination with glycerine. The objective of this study was to determine whether this combination is effective in the treatment of the most prevalent form of aphthous ulcers. METHODS: An open-label study was conducted in 48 otherwise healthy male and female patients aged 4-44 years to determine the putative healing properties and tolerability of a standard 3% extract of A. vulgaris in glycerine (Aphtarine) on common minor oral ulcers. Patients with major or herpetiform ulcers were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Topical application three times daily of Aphtarine gel to minor mouth ulcers relieved discomfort and produced complete healing in the majority of patients (60.4%) within 2 days and in 75% within 3 days, compared with 10.4% and 33.3%, respectively, without treatment and 15% and 40%, respectively, with commonly available treatments. Most patients appreciated the product's ease of application, taste and texture. Aphtarine was well tolerated locally and most patients rated the product good to excellent overall. CONCLUSION: Aphtarine is a safe, well tolerated and highly effective promising new treatment for healing common mouth ulcers.

Evidence for growth-promoting effects of omega n - 3 fatty acids alone and in combination with a specific vitamin and mineral complex in rat neuroblastoma cells.

The beneficial effects of Omega n - 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n - 3 PUFA) in situations of cognitive impairment may be associated with enhanced neuronal growth. Since neuronal growth is impaired in n - 3 PUFA deficiency, and enhanced by certain vitamins and trace elements, the effects of n - 3 PUFA, vitamin and mineral cell complex (VMC) and their association on neuronal growth were investigated in cultured rat neuroblastoma cells. Treatment of cells for 3 days with n - 3 PUFA significantly enhanced neurite length without affecting the number of neurites or cells. VMC significantly increased cell number without affecting neurite length or their number. Combined n - 3 PUFA and VMC significantly enhanced all three growth parameters. The data confirm the growth promoting effects of n - 3 PUFA and VMC in cultured neurons over a relatively short time frame.